Reviews for The Urban Picnic: Being an Idiosyncratic and Lyrically Recollected Account of Menus, Recipes, History, Trivia, and Admonitions on the Subject of Alfresco Dining in Cities Both Larg

The average rating for The Urban Picnic: Being an Idiosyncratic and Lyrically Recollected Account of Menus, Recipes, History, Trivia, and Admonitions on the Subject of Alfresco Dining in Cities Both Larg based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2020-04-23 00:00:00 Joseph Roeder This book did not hold my attention. Among a majority of boring and not-fully-realized chapters, there were some really interesting morsels of information. An ex-policeman gives an perspective on the way that women are usually "dealt out" of criminal charges to do with drinking/drugs. Some of the various ethnographic studies of cultures (Japan, Peru, etc.), and how society views drinking, were absorbing. However, too often the studies felt rather lacking. Also, the issues were broadly repetitive and a little depressing: people drink because they have problems, and the drinking leads to even more problems. Illuminating, huh? I suppose I was just looking for more nuanced answers as to why people drink and how that differs around the world and according to gender. Perhaps those nuanced answers don't exist.

Review # 2 was written on 2014-05-18 00:00:00 Rodney Walker This book was a fast and entertaining look at the influence of saloons in Denver. Dr. Noel only talks about the role of saloons before prohibition. Super interesting look at the social and political role of saloons in the frontier society. A great look at immigrant communities. Anyone who knows Dr. Noel can hear his voice come through in the writing; he is such a great story teller and he includes many of those stories in his text.